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New Roundhouse Locos for 2018

Written by Scott McDonald

Published: 07 January 2018

Doncaster, UK - It's the New Year and our friends at Roundhouse Engineering have announced their two new locomotives for 2018. For the fans of live steam we have a return to a familiar face of times past with a steam tram that follows in the footsteps of the earlier "Stanley". Say hello to "Clarence".

This boxy 0-4-0 is sure to please as it trundles around the garden railway. Roundhouse states that it is not a particular prototype model but typical of the style of trams that could have be found all over Europe. This means the live steamer has a basic canvas upon which they can add the details to take "Clarence" from simple to as extravagant as they desire to go along with your urban or inter-urban modelling tastes.

In Memoriam: John Coughran

Written by Jim Gabelich

Published: 02 November 2017

Rick Parker Photo

John Coughran was born in El Paso, TX in 1931. His house must have been close to the Railroad tracks because I remember him saying he always knew when the freight trains were coming through because the whole house would vibrate from the 2-10-2’s and 4-10-2’s rumbling by. During the Korean War John joined the Navy and became a Fire Control Specialist on board a ship that shot 3-inch and 5-inch rockets in salvos to support troop landings.

In Memoriam: Dr. Carol Homuth

Written by Scott McDonald

Published: 20 October 2017

Dr. Carol Homuth of Harriston, Ontario, Canada passed away on August 1, 2017 at the Caressant Care Nursing Home at the age of 93. Born in Harriston on March 27, 1924, Carol was the husband of the late Viola Homuth, having been married for 63 years until her passing in 2010.

Carol and Viola were, for many years, regular attendees at the International Small Scale Steamup held in Diamondhead, Mississippi. It was Carol who is credited with the creation of the "Flea Market" after suggesting to steamup founder Jerry Reshew that he needed one. Carol volunteered as coordinator of the Flea Market and served in that capacity for many years.

In Memoriam: Geoff Spenceley

Written by Kevin Schindler

Published: 06 October 2017

Geoff Spenceley

Geoffrey Spenceley, “His Lordship” as he enjoyed being called, has passed on. Geoff boarded the outbound train to the great beyond during the early morning hours of August 03, 2017 after nearly 96 years on this planet. Geoff has now reunited with his wife, Queenie and his eldest daughter Ginny. He is survived by his two sons, Bill and Scott, and his daughter Christine and granddaughter, Lauren.

This piece is simply a collection of my personal memories of Geoff and not meant to be a full rundown of Geoff’s amazing life as a Royal Marine, salesman, husband, father and a friend to many of you.

Geoff and I first crossed paths back in 1989 at a Garden Railroad gathering in Humboldt County. He was hosting the very first meeting of a group named the Humboldt Bay Garden Railway Society, based out of Humboldt County in far Northern California. Geoff’s enthusiasm and encouragement found me asking more and more questions about Live Steam and our friendship grew from there. He became my live steam mentor as I purchased my first locomotive, a Roundhouse Fowler, in the mid-nineties. As time went on, Geoff, together with a few other friends of ours, formed a regional Live Steam group dubbed the Lost Coast Live Steamers. It was a loose knit cadre of like-minded souls that would hold impromptu gatherings to run our Live Steam locomotives each year. Geoff remained involved with the Humboldt Bay Garden Railway group as their President and “Conductor” of the newsletter for many years.

In Memoriam: Jerry Reshew

Written by Scott E. McDonald

Published: 15 July 2017

Our small scale live steam world lost a legend of the community on June 23, 2017. Jerry Reshew, founder of the International Small Scale Steamup and Arts Festival as it came to be known in its latest incarnation, left our earthly presence to join his wife Charlotte in the great beyond. Jerry will be dearly missed as the loss of his presence at the steamup known to most simply as “Diamondhead” makes our ranks a bit smaller.

Jerry’s personal history in the area of Diamondhead, Mississippi goes back many years as the Director of the Navy’s Oceanographic Offices in nearby Bay St.Louis. It was under Jerry’s management and directorship skills that he created more jobs in the area when the Navy decided to close down the aging offices of Bay St. Louis, by lobbying for the new offices to be opened at nearby Stennis Airfield. This act made Jerry a local hero, a title well deserved.

Jerry’s local activities weren’t limited to his government duties. He and his wife Charlotte embraced the southern lifestyle and Mardi Gras way of life becoming regular supporters of the local Mardi Gras crewe – and becoming the King and Queen of the festival one season. It is through these Mardi Gras activities that many charitable fund raising events for local needs were accomplished.